Office of Study Abroad

Profile: Mariko Goetz '25

Major/minor: Applied Mathematics major, Hispanic Studies minor

Study abroad program: Math, Sicence, and Engineering in Madrid, Spring 2024

Reason you chose this program: I knew I wanted to study abroad in a Spanish speaking country, and as an applied math major I wanted to do all I could to continue taking math classes and keep working towards my major. I had traveled to Madrid in the past, but only for a short visit for family vacation, so having the opportunity to go back and get the full experience of living there felt extra special to me.

Favorite classes: I was able to take classes not only through my program, but also through one of the sister programs (Language and Area Studies in Madrid) and at the local engineering university, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. I loved being able to travel throughout the city to each of my classes and the wide range of subject matter they offered. A particular favorite of mine was a class taught in Spanish called Cultural Myths in Spanish Literature where we read classic Spanish works like Don Quijote and compared them to more modern media like The Office and Game of Thrones. It was such a cool way to engage with the culture as well as find new connections with media and literature that I never would have found on my own. I also enjoyed my university class called Engineering Graphics where we learned CAD software and technical drawing for engineers.

How did you incorporate your Brandeis areas of study into your study abroad experience? As my program was very STEM focused, it was super easy to find classes that I could take for my major, and because I was in a Spanish speaking country, even easier to take classes towards my minor. I was able to take Game Theory while I was abroad, which at Brandeis is an upper level economics elective cross listed with my major and not offered every semester. This was extremely helpful to me in furthering my academic progress and fulfilling major requirements.

Housing situation: I lived in a co-living residence or students called Mi Casa Inn (there were a few throughout the city). I had my own space and shared a bathroom with one other girl on my program. There was one kitchen for the whole building where my friends and I would often gather to cook our meals. American students from a couple of programs made up most of the residents with a smaller community of Spanish students with whom we would chat and go to occasional events in the building.

What were some parts of your identity that you thought about while considering study abroad that other students may want to talk to you about? I was very used to living at home or living and being on campus where I did not often have to cook or even budget very much. When I went abroad I had to really work on how I would design a budget, grocery shop, and meal plan for myself that did not just consist of which dining hall I was going to and when. An added factor in my experience was that I am also a vegetarian (more accurately a pescatarian because I refuse to give up bagels and lox) going abroad in a country with a very meat heavy cuisine. Sometimes it was difficult to find dishes at restaurants that did not include ham, as it is not even considered a type of meat in Spain, but being a big, international city I was able to find plenty of options that worked for me.

Favorite memory: It is so difficult to choose just one favorite memory, but one of the moments that really stands out to me is the moment I realized I had walked from my residence to the train station to class without even thinking. It may seem small, but it was the moment when I felt like I really knew Madrid, like I had finally done it and could say that I really lived there. There was even one time when my phone died before I got home from class, but I still made it back to my room without it because I had established a true knowledge and understanding of the city that I had never really felt anywhere else. It felt like a testament to my resilience and strength to be able to achieve that.

What was your greatest challenge? The hardest part for me was trying not to feel guilty about taking a day off and just being in my room for a little. It was so easy to get stuck in the mindset of "I am only abroad for a short time, I should be making the most of every minute!" Four months is not that long in the grand scheme of things, but at the same time it is actually a very long time to be away from home, living in a new country, doing an entire semester of classes, and exploring. For me it was really important to remember that it was okay to take a break and just sit in my bed for an hour or two to relax and watch a few episodes of a show. Especially now with social media, we all have ideas about what being abroad should or could be, and it is extra difficult to escape that idealized version of life abroad. There will be extraordinary moments, and there will also be ordinary moments.

What do you know now that you didn't know before? Being abroad taught me how to believe in myself and my abilities to speak a foreign language, cope with new or unexpected issues, meet new people, travel by myself, budget, cook, and do so many other things that until that point, I had never had proof that I could do. I have a deeper understanding of what it means to uproot everything and live in a new place, even if it was only for four months. I was so nervous about being abroad, so seeing myself thrive in a new environment was something that I did not know I could do until I went. Being abroad instilled in me a new sense of confidence in myself and who I am because I had to take myself, all of my knowledge, and my identity and move it to a new place where it was up to me to take care of myself and make my own routines and schedule. I realized, not in a super nihilistic way, that the little things do not really matter, nothing is ever that deep, so you might as well make the life and chase the experiences that you want. No one else will get to live and remember it but you, so there is no "right" way to do it, just doing it is more than enough.

Fact about Italy that you think people would be surprised to learn: One thing about Spain that I did not know until I went there was that the northern part of the country is actually a separate region called Basque Country (País Vasco) with its own capital, cuisine, cultural traditions, and language that predates all romance languages. Another fun thing to note is that ham (jamón) is not considered meat in Spain, and when you ask if a dish with ham is vegetarian, they will say yes!